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From Paris with Love (US - BD RA)

Gabe returns this package to sender, from America with disappointment...

Feature

James Reese (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) lives the high life in Paris as the US Ambassador’s personal aid. What his boss and girlfriend don’t know is that he works a second job as a low-level CIA operative, where he changes out license plates and places bugs in government offices. But James longs for something a little more action-packed, and his wish comes true when he’s ordered to assist agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta). Wax’s unorthodox methods and violent behaviour catch the uninitiated James off guard, but he soon learns he may have something to learn from the senior operative. Violence eventually ensues.

Judging by the box office take and critical reception of From Paris with Love, I’m not the only one sick of the Luc Besson movie machine. The one time director turned mega producer’s production filmography has created a swath of mediocrity not seen since the heyday of the direct to VHS ninja movie. There are a few films as good as Unleashed, or as financially successful as Taken in the collection, but for the most part these films are interchangeable mixes of action clichés, with minor, brief highlights. Director Pierre Morel is one of an ever increasing list of interchangeable talents Besson hires as a generic cipher. District 13 and Taken do stand slightly above most of the other recent Besson productions, but I still wouldn’t call either particularly interesting outside a few sequences or performances. From Paris with Love sets itself apart from Morel’s other films neglecting to do anything interesting for twenty minutes. We’re not just talking dumb, or silly, we’re talking utter bore. Finally something happens that can be categorically considered action, and it’s enough to keep the most desperate among us from turning the film off, but it isn’t until a solid hour into this mess that Morel attempts anything close to his work of District 13. The closest he gets is a half-decent car chase Louis Leterrier could’ve made between naps. And I’m not even a Leterrier fan.

The lack of action wouldn’t be a huge problem had the screenplay been worth a ninety-three minute sitting. Unfortunately, this is possibly the worst screenplay to come out of the Besson factory since the Taxi remake. Seriously, I would not be at all surprised if the original plot was scribbled on a cocktail napkin. None of these films are interesting in a story sense, but the decent ones at least have a hook—an illegal transporter finds himself with human cargo, an ex-CIA op’s daughter is kidnapped, or guys that can jump really well have to stop a nuclear bomb. From Paris with Love features no such hook, unless you consider the ‘guess it the first time you meet the character’ last act twist, which seems to be the only definable story element in the entire script. Worse yet, there’s no Liam Neeson or Jason Statham to overcome the character clichés. Travolta does an utterly terrible impression of his best work (and looks like he just came off the set of Pelham 123), and Rhys Myers plays a total dead fish of a straight man who is maddeningly bad at his job. James could be set up as new and inexperienced, but the screenwriters opt for total ineptitude. The only thing more maddening is idiotic Americana by way of Popeye Boyle dope Travolta plays, whose dialogue is the worst blend of painful exposition, heavy handed stuff that should probably go unspoken, and Tarantinoesque mouthfuls of ‘bad ass’ (including some direct and clumsy Pulp Fiction references). Not one member of the cast has it in them to work through the trash.

Video

From Paris with Love follows the lead set by cinematographer turned director Pierre Morel’s other films. The print is dark with neon and acrylic highlights, and plenty of grain. Details are tight and consistent throughout most of the film, including dark lighting schemes, and crowded wide shots, but never as utterly sharp as a lot of the bigger budget action stuff coming out of Lionsgate recently. The cleanliness of the busy wide shots, filled with colourful set dressing and props, is probably the transfer’s most successful element, and general details are good enough to make Travolta’s stunt double stick out any time he’s utilized. The colours are well represented, bright, and well separated, despite all the grain, and there is a lot of grain. The element that suffers the greatest shortcoming is the black levels, which often either absorb the colour elements, or appear generally too gray.

Audio

This DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is effective enough, but nothing particularly note worthy. Despite being an action flick From Paris with Love is mixed more like a comedy or drama, with most of its major noise pretty well centred on the track. I’m most disappointed by the thin quality of the aural elements that usually define a silly action movie, like gunshot, bombs exploding, and revving car engines. The music and dialogue takes sizable precedence over everything fun, and directional elements are few and far between. The LFE is certainly punchy, and this saves the action from being entirely lost amongst David Buckley’s less than thrilling musical score. The music is certainly well represented in the front channels, but isn’t mixed into the rear channels outside of some basic echo effects.

Extras

The extras start with a BonusView commentary from director Pierre Morel. Morel is pleasant enough, but he reacts to the on screen images, and basically narrates the film. He remembers to include a few anecdotes, but isn’t particularly informative in terms of technical filmmaking (though he gets more into the swing as the track progresses). The time is filled without very many blank spots (at least not for the first hour), and I appreciate that Morel doesn’t seem to think he’s made a great film, but it’s very hard to maintain interest. In losing interest I started skipping chapters, and in the process I apparently missed all the PiP moments, that, or there actually isn’t any video on the disc to go with the commentary. Either way I can’t imagine anyone really caring. There’s also a ‘Friend or Foe Trivia Game’ mode for more in-movie entertainment, which quizzes the viewer via timed pop-up multiple choice questions.

‘From Paris with Love: Making of’ (26:40, HD) is more artfully put together EPK than expected, made up of cast and crew interviews set to a whole lot of footage from the film, and behind the scenes video, that doesn’t really tell us much. It’s pretty sad how diluted the interview subjects are considering how super awful the film is. I genuinely feel sorry for them. ‘Spies, Spooks and Special Ops: Life Under Cover’ (16:00, HD) threatens to be an informative look at the real life spy craft behind the film’s daft storyline, but mostly tells us what we already know from watching better movies, and pertains almost exclusively to what happens over the course of the film. ‘Secrets of Spy Craft’ (04:30, HD) is an unabashed advertisement for Washington DC’s International Spy Museum, which looks like a fun enough place to visit some day. The extras are completed with ‘Charlie Wax’s Gun Locker’, an interactive look at the weapons used by the character over the course of the film, a trailer, and trailers for upcoming Lionsgate releases.

Overall

From Paris with Love is a shockingly bad film, directed by a bored man that needs to move on from under his mentors wing, and featuring one of worst scripts to come out of the Luc Besson factory in a long time. I’m sure someone out there enjoyed it, but I can’t imagine why. The Blu-ray image and audio quality is quite average, and the extras deliver less than the box art appears to promise, but there’s nothing worth aggressively complaining about.

*Note: The images on this page are not representative of the Blu-ray release.

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Why are you still commenting on reviews if you don't think much of movie reviews? Why did you read the review at all? Unless you just wanted your taste to be verified, which strikes me as pretty sad. I've noticed you only comment to complain, which I understand, as I was once 17 and couldn't stand the idea of someone not liking the same things I did.

The 'critic can't take criticism' line carries a lot more weight when you actually involve yourself in the conversation. You're basing your offense on the assumption that I consider my reviews anything more than my honest opinion on the subject. Besides, you haven't offered any criticism, unless calling me arrogant counts on your terms, you're just disagreeing with me. What 'facts' are you basing this belief I don't like action movies on? Clearly not on any of my reviews for this site where I praise generally bad films for effective action scenes time and time again, since you don't read reviews.

haha. now who is being sensitive? and don't be dumb, i'm not telling you what kind of movies you like, i am making an observation on facts. i've got an idea, learn how to be a critic that can take criticism.

i wasn't really offended, i just thought it was an arrogant statement. and from the look of your collection, gabe, it does appear that you don't really care for action movies. i never really think too much about movie reviews, as people should decide for themselves. they can be used as guidelines, but i don't even take it that far. i love this site for images and release dates

If that offended you then you shouldn't read movie reviews. It's simply a means of expressing his disinterest in the film, and nothing personal. I haven't watched this yet, but when I heard the dreadful "royale with cheese" line in the commercial I got the feeling nothing that takes place in the movie could redeem it.

Regular readers know I'm perfectly happy with silly action movies, and I'm terribly sorry if my conclusive statement was offending. I'm fine with it being arrogant, even though I really don't think it is (it was meant to make the point that my opinion is clearly not law on the subject), but if it genuinely offended you I suggest you buck up a bit.

I continue to be baffled that so many people are defending this film. What action scenes were particularly exciting to everyone? I can't recall anything I haven't seen done better in even other Besson Factory flicks. Seriously I'd personally put the first two Transporter films, Unleashed, Kiss of the Dragon, District 13, Hitman, and Taken above this film. I can credit each of those films with at least one really great scene.

Dragonrage wrote: Although...you question...conclusion that there is probably someone out there who enjoyed this movie, but you can’t imagine why, was kind of arrogant and offending. have to agree with that. i would suggest this film to anyone who loves action, and loves it fast. "hitman" movies are always good for that. despite the review up top, this is a good film, and 90% of Besson's are exactly that. i can see how someone who might hate action films might hate this movie, but everyone else is safe. i loved this movie, and i actually really dislike Travolta.

Dude, I found nothing not boring in the movie, thus it was a boring movie. Why does there have to be a specific moment to define boredom?

And you keep mentioning movies I enjoyed despite their lack of story elements or intriguing characters. I don't know I can explain this any clearer: I thought From Paris with Love had nothing interesting going for it, and it bored me.

Gabe Powers wrote: Clearly my opinion has offended you, so I won't bother discussing this any further with you.

No man...I'm not offended. I just answer to you question. Although...you question...conclusion that there is probably someone out there who enjoyed this movie, but you can’t imagine why, was kind of arrogant and offending. Basically, it means that all the people who like this movie are obviously stupid or something because you cant find any reason why to like it. I gave you a straight and simple, but true answer why would anybody like movie like this one...or any other similar type of movie like Taken, Kick Ass, Transformers, Armageddon, Kiss of the Dragon, Ong Bak, Wanted or any other. Its not that we talk about movies that have great and original story's or fantastic characters. The only thing that movies can offer to audience is bunch of action and humor. So its not because of the story's or characters, its simple because they are entertaining, a fun way to spend 90 or more minutes, regardless of bunch of cliches and some other stuff. Of course...not everybody think the same, but that is a reason for a large number of people. There you have it...again. And you cant answer one simple question...why you found this movie boring?? "I found the movie boring because it was boring"...what kind of reason is that!? So much about non-descriptive sentence...

I found the movie boring because it was boring. I don't know how I can pinpoint a moment I realized I was totally disinterested with the film. I didn't care about the characters, I (and the person I watched the film with, by the way) guessed the twist the minute we meet the twisting character, it took forever to get to any action, and the action we got was not exciting to me.

And badasses that take massive risks with a sense of humour are rare? Really? Isn't that pretty much the prerequisite for being an action hero?

Gabe, I saw this movie and really enjoyed it - especially the plot twist and Travolta's mannerisms - but I agree it's not a good movie objectively. Your review on the film, I felt, was a little vague and I was hoping to pinpoint exactly what about the movie fell short...because honestly, I know it does, but can't explain it. Why did you find it boring? That was one problem I didn't have with it. And although Travolta's character gets a little wordy and cliched, I thought Charlie Wax was interesting in the sense that he's a badass who takes massive risks with a sense of humor...and not the kind of action hero you see often in the movies today. So I don't know if I agree with the character being lacking, either. Still, I know it's not the best of movies and I was wondering if you could give at least one specific example of where the movie failed.

Gabe Powers wrote: Taken and Kick-Ass aren't very good examples to make your point, at least if we're trying to convince me specifically that I'm wrong. I covered Taken in this review, and think Kick-Ass is a genuinely good film outside of base level entertainment. I found nothing redeeming or entertaining here that can't be found in a million other generic action movies, and who wants to be bored during a dumb action movie.

I do agree that Travolta's c**ppy performance is '50%' of the film, though I think we mean entirely different things by that non-descriptive sentence.

Actually…you can. That’s why I mentioned them anyway… I still don’t get it what was the fuss about Taken!? Yeah…it was good action movie, and I like that movie, but that GREAT!? I don’t think so. Go watch any Segals movie that he made in last 10 years…hell, go watch almost every Seagals movie that he made ever made, and in 80% of those movies you will see very similar stuff, especially story. In all those movies somebody always kidnapped or kill Seagals wife,/daughter/son, and then he is going to get his revenge or found them. Same thing was wit Taken…but the difference was that instead of Seagal there was Neeson., and people love the movie, although Taken also is nothing more than dumb action movie that we saw like million other times before. And Kick Ass. Again, I don’t get the fuss about that movie. Its good, and entertaining, but not that good. For a movie that wants to be “realistic” superhero movie, at least in first 10-15 min., it’s kind of ridiculous. We have a 10years old girl, and she is flying and jumping around like friking Spiderman, killing grown up people like they are fly’s, and people like it!! FTW??! What is so smart or different than in any other action movie. Hell, to see 10 years old girl doing that is even kind of dumb, a lot dumber then to se 50 years old bald guy kicking the S*** out of bad guys. And that character is even kind of irritating, but people like it anyway. IMO Cages character, Big Daddy is far more interesting and entertaining then Hit Girl, but he didn’t get that much attention… And then we have FPWL…same type of movie, entertaining action movie with lots of kick ass action that is nor different then action in Taken (after all, both moves are directed by the same man)and a lot humor.. Hell, even has more interesting story then Taken, and more humor then Taken that was really to serous for a no brain action movie. But suddenly, that isn't good. You say that Travoltas performance in FPWL is c**appy. Well, you know what Dirty Harry said one…”opinions are lie a**holes…everybody has one”. You have your opinion, I have mine, and I don’t agree with your opinion. If Travoltas performance her is really that bad, then his performance in Pulp Fiction, Face/Off, Broken Arrow, or Swordfish are also bad, because performance in FPWL is in the same vein as those performances, and is not better or worse. Travolta is just doing here what he is doing best – playing bad ass crazy character. If you don’t like it…it’s just your problem…

You can call me crazy or what ever...but to I personally found FPWL to be most entertaining action movie of 2010...so far. Yeah...I really had a good time watching it...here you have ti...I ain't afraid to admitted that...

Why?? Why people enjoyed Taken witch has a story like any other Seagal movie?? Or why people like Kick Ass??

Because is entertaining...

And Travolta kicked ass here...he was like 50% of this movie...

Taken and Kick-Ass aren't very good examples to make your point, at least if we're trying to convince me specifically that I'm wrong. I covered Taken in this review, and think Kick-Ass is a genuinely good film outside of base level entertainment. I found nothing redeeming or entertaining here that can't be found in a million other generic action movies, and who wants to be bored during a dumb action movie.

I do agree that Travolta's c**ppy performance is '50%' of the film, though I think we mean entirely different things by that non-descriptive sentence.